Visual Search in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia. 2019

Amanda Douglass, and Mark Walterfang, and Dennis Velakoulis, and Larry Abel
Optometry, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia.

Changes to visual search have shown specific patterns in a number of dementia subtypes. The cortical regions involved in the control of visual search overlap with the regions affected in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Previous literature has examined visual search in bvFTD with smaller array sizes. To examine the pattern of behavior shown by bvFTD patients while undertaking visual search in the presence of larger numbers of distractors to model increased cognitive load. 15 bvFTD and 17 control participants undertook three visual search tasks: color, orientation, and conjunction searches. A wide range of array sizes was used, from 16 to 100 items arranged as a square. Behavior was quantified using accuracy, response time, and eye movements. BvFTD participants displayed a reduction in accuracy and an increased response time across all task types. BvFTD participants displayed an increase in number of objects examined and number of fixations made for color and conjunction tasks. Fixation duration was increased for orientation and conjunction (the more difficult tasks) but not color search. Results indicated the increase in time to response to be due to an increased intercept, with no significant difference in slope for the different tasks. BvFTD participants display a pattern of visual search behavior consisting of a decrease in accuracy, an increase in response time, and a corresponding increase in the number and length of eye movements made during visual search. The pattern seen corresponds to studies of frontal lobe damage, while differing in pattern from that seen in a range of other cognitive conditions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009483 Neuropsychological Tests Tests designed to assess neurological function associated with certain behaviors. They are used in diagnosing brain dysfunction or damage and central nervous system disorders or injury. Aphasia Tests,Cognitive Test,Cognitive Testing,Cognitive Tests,Memory for Designs Test,Neuropsychological Testing,AX-CPT,Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome,CANTAB,Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery,Clock Test,Cognitive Function Scanner,Continuous Performance Task,Controlled Oral Word Association Test,Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System,Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment,Hooper Visual Organization Test,NEPSY,Neuropsychologic Tests,Neuropsychological Test,Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test,Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status,Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure,Symbol Digit Modalities Test,Test of Everyday Attention,Test, Neuropsychological,Tests, Neuropsychological,Tower of London Test,Neuropsychologic Test,Test, Cognitive,Testing, Cognitive,Testing, Neuropsychological,Tests, Cognitive
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D003071 Cognition Intellectual or mental process whereby an organism obtains knowledge. Cognitive Function,Cognitions,Cognitive Functions,Function, Cognitive,Functions, Cognitive
D005133 Eye Movements Voluntary or reflex-controlled movements of the eye. Eye Movement,Movement, Eye,Movements, Eye
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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